Dustyn Thompson, Chapter Director, joined the Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club in July 2019. He has worked in the Delaware political world since 2015. Dustyn believes that Delaware can become a leader in the fight for more renewable energy and environmental justice through collaboration and coalition building. Growing up in what was once a rural mountain town, hiking through the Appalachian Trail, and spending hours in the woods, he knows the value of being able to enjoy the outdoors as a child. Unfortunately, when he goes back to visit where he grew up, it is now an industrial and sprawling development. So he also understands the impacts that unfettered growth and a lack of oversight can have on a cherished space.
He has served on the Governor's Energy Advisory Council, the Renewable Energy Taskforce, the Senate Energy Stakeholders Group, and the Governor's Transition Report Committee. In addition to managing the Delaware Chapter, Dustyn regularly collaborates with local and state officials on policies regarding clean energy, data center development, energy efficiency, and climate policies.
While Dustyn focuses on helping the Chapter build the infrastructure it needs for long-term growth and development, he remains very interested in hearing from our volunteers and other organizations about ways we can continue to build a formidable force to protect the environment in Delaware. If you want to be more involved with the Sierra Club and our efforts, please reach out to Dustyn at any time.
Marissa McClenton, Environmental Justice Associate Organizer, holds a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Delaware. Growing up surrounded by the outdoors in North Carolina, Arizona, and Delaware has molded her love for nature and how folks engage with it in their daily lives.
She is passionate about exploring how Black Joy can be used as a tool to fight climate change and how joy itself can be used as a metric for success in the environmental justice movement. In her free time, Marissa enjoys relaxing in nature and looking for turtles, frogs, and salamanders.
In her role, Marissa will be working with Dustyn Thompson on issues ranging from climate and energy policy to environmental justice, building relationships between the club and impacted communities, and ensuring that our work is aligned with the needs of those most historically impacted by the climate crisis.
Jenn Parrish, our Chapter Coordinator, is a mother of 5 known for her public service and her advocacy with numerous nonprofits including the Brandywine River Restoration Trust (BRRT), Turn the Towns Teal, and the American Heart Association. She comes to the Sierra Club with knowledge and experience in many areas, including environmental service in the State of Delaware, work in the political world, and serving on her town planning and zoning commission. When Jenn was younger her mom always had her outside playing in the woods, at parks, and around the land at her Nanny (grandmother's) house. However, so many of these places and the nature within that she so enjoyed exploring as a child have been taken over by an ever industrializing world. Her passions and hopes and dreams for the future center around creating a healthier, more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable world for her children and for future generations.